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Dr. Sanjay Gupta is best-known for his work with CNN, where he serves as chief medical
correspondent.

He is also an assistant professor of neurosurgery and a practicing trauma neurosurgeon at Emory
University’s Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

Since joining CNN in 2001 as part of the team reporting on events surrounding 9/11, Gupta has
become a high-profile media figure on health, the medical arena and a broad range of health-related
issues.

In addition to his regular TV reporting, Gupta, 43, hosts a weekend medical-affairs program
called
Sanjay Gupta MD. He recently shared his thoughts on a variety of health issues.

Q: Why do Americans struggle so much with obesity?

A: The health illiteracy rate in our country is higher than people realize.

There is no single answer. It is beyond “eat less; exercise more” — that is not a bad message;
it is just not complete.

Not all calories are the same, for example, and this has meaning for weight loss.

Not all exercise has equal benefit, either.

Intense exercise in the morning, for example, and getting your heart rate over a certain level
can actually be damaging as opposed to beneficial.

Q: What are the biggest misconceptions about American medicine today?

A: We’ve done such a good job at some things — heart research and cancer for example, and
childhood leukemia, which used to lead to imminent fatality. Today, survival rates of some forms
are up into the 90th percentile.

In some ways, I think people think they can live careless lifestyles (regarding diet, exercise
and risky sexual behavior) and count on medicine to reverse or take care of these things.

It just doesn’t work that way.

By 2020, it is estimated that over half the country will be pre-diabetic or diabetic. The
health-care system will not be able to handle the surge of patients.

Q: At what do we need to get better regarding our own health care?

A: With medicine and health, many people seem so willing to hand off the decision-making to
others. You learn more about your schools and your supermarkets than your hospitals. Many don’t
research hospital emergency rooms in their community in advance of ever having to make that visit.
People may not know the capability of facilities in their community. It really comes down to being
engaged.

Q: What online sources would you recommend?

A: There is good information found online. EverydayHealth. com, Mayoclinic.com and
www.cnn.com/HEALTH are good examples.

One caution I offer, however, is that people often go searching for information that will
validate their own opinion.

Given the vast array of information out there, they’ll likely find that, and the information may
contradict what they are told by their doctor.